Happy Friday, fellow readers! It’s hard to believe it’s the last Friday in January already – the first month of 2021 is almost over! Today I’m joining the First Line Friday linkup hosted by Hoarding Books and featuring ‘Til I Want No More by Robin W. Pearson.

“‘You know trouble ain’t catchin’.’ Ruby Tagle’s dark eyes flicked in her granddaughter’s direction. ‘Nobody’s gon’ sneeze and give it to you or your Theodore.'”

‘Til I Want No More by Robin W. Pearson

The Basics

Title: ‘Til I Want No More

Author: Robin W. Pearson

Release Date: February 2, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover: When the man she loved years ago returns to town, one young woman’s complicated past rises again, threatening to expose her well-kept secrets.

If Maxine could put her finger on the moment when her life went into a tailspin, she would point back twenty years to the day her daddy died. She tells herself he’s the only person who ever really knew and loved her, and if he hadn’t left her behind, her future would’ve taken a different path. No absentee mother, no stepfather, no rebellious ripping and running during her teenage years. And no JD, who gave her wandering young heart a home, at least for a time.

But that’s over and done with. All grown-up now, Maxine has pledged her heart and ring finger to Theodore Charles, the man she’ll promise to love, honor, and obey in front of God and everybody. At least that’s what she’s telling anybody who will listen. The only folks buying it are the dog and the readers of her column, however. Her best friend and family aren’t having it—not even Celeste, the double bass–playing thirteen-year-old the community of Mount Laurel, North Carolina, believes is Maxine’s adopted sister. And apparently, neither is the newly returned JD, who seems intent on toppling Maxine’s reconstructed life. As her wedding day marches ever closer, Maxine confronts what it means to be really known and loved by examining what’s buried in her own heart and exposing truth that has never seen the light of day.

My Thoughts

Robin W. Pearson has written a poignant story of forgiveness and redemption in ‘Til I Want No More. This novel is definitely character-driven and moves at a slower pace, but that is part of its Southern charm. Maxine is a compelling heroine – although at times you want to say, “What were you thinking?,” her fears, dreams, and inner musings make her so relatable. The whole cast of characters – Maxine’s parents and grandparents, her friend Evelyn, and Pastor Atwater and his wife all added richness and depth to the story as they helped Maxine face her past.

This book is a powerful look at how the secrets we keep can have such an impact on everyone around us – but it’s never too late to tell the truth and be set free. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of Lauren K. Denton, Beth Vogt, and Ashley Clark!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday! For today’s First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Hoarding Books, I’m sharing from a new book by one of my favorite suspense authors. Active Defense, the third book in Lynette Eason’s Danger Never Sleeps series, just came out a couple of weeks ago. It’s one you won’t want to miss!

September

Kabul, Afghanistan

“Dr. Heather Fontaine strapped her feet into the sandboard and pushed off.”

Active Defense by Lynette Eason

The Basics

Title: Active Defense

Author: Lynette Eason

Series: Danger Never Sleeps (Book 3 of 4)

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

She’s used to life-or-death situations.
She just didn’t expect them to follow her home.

When former field surgeon Heather Fontaine returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house–and threatened her friends–she assumes it is the stalker who has been creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble follows her even there.

Luckily, a stalker isn’t the only one observing Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it’s what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead–and why–before it’s too late.

My Review

Lynette Eason has written another intense, action-packed suspense novel in Active Defense! This is the third book in the Danger Never Sleeps series, that follows four friends as they return stateside from their military service. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but the overlapping characters definitely add richness to each story.

This story is full of twists and turns, as a tragedy Heather experienced in Afghanistan appears to have followed her home. The action ramps up throughout the book – danger seems to be around every corner for Heather, and Travis as he tries to protect her. All of the suspense culminates in a major plot twist at the end! I was definitely shocked when the perpetrator was revealed.

I highly recommend this book, and the whole series, to fans of romantic suspense! If you enjoy authors like Dani Pettrey, Rachel Dylan, and Lisa Harris, you won’t want to miss this one. Watch for the fourth and final book in the series, Hostile Intent, which is coming out in August!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday, and welcome to another First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Hoarding Books! Today I’m sharing the first line of a legal thriller that just released this week: Lethal Intent by Cara Putman.

“The phone felt warm against her cheek. Caroline Bragg ran a hand along the edge of the clothes hanging in her closet and inhaled, then slowly released her breath.”

Lethal Intent by Cara Putman

The Basics

Title: Lethal Intent

Author: Cara Putman

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover: If they expected silence, they hired the wrong woman. 

Caroline Bragg’s life has never been better. She and Brandon Lancaster are taking their relationship to the next level, and she has a new dream job as legal counsel for Praecursoria—a research lab that is making waves with its cutting-edge genetic therapies. The company’s leukemia treatments even promise to save desperately sick kids—kids like eleven-year-old Bethany, a critically ill foster child at Brandon’s foster home. 

When Caroline’s enthusiastic boss wants to enroll Bethany in experimental trials prematurely, Caroline objects, putting her at odds with her colleagues. They claim the only goal at Praecursoria is to save lives. But does someone have another agenda? 

Brandon faces his own crisis. As laws governing foster homes shift, he’s on the brink of losing the group home he’s worked so hard to build. When Caroline learns he’s a Praecursoria investor, it becomes legally impossible to confide in him. Will the secrets she keeps become a wedge that separates them forever? And can she save Bethany from the very treatments designed to heal her? 

This latest romantic legal thriller by bestseller Cara Putman shines a light on the shadowy world of scientific secrets and corporate vendettas—and the ethical dilemmas that plague the place where science and commerce meet.

My Thoughts

Cara Putman writes excellent legal thrillers, and Lethal Intent is my favorite of her books so far! The combination of legal and medical issues brought up some ethical dilemmas that added to the suspense in a unique way. I loved the dynamics between Caroline and Brandon – they had been friends for years and were already dating at the beginning of the book, so the story follows the growth rather than the beginning of their relationship. That’s not as common in romantic suspense, but it worked so well for this story! I also really enjoyed the focus on foster care, especially learning about the different challenges Brandon faced with his unique version of a foster home.

This book does include some characters from Cara Putman’s past books, but it is a stand-alone novel. I would recommend Lethal Intent for fans of romantic suspense, especially fans of Rachel Dylan and Irene Hannon.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.